Frugal Friday With Marsha -- Free Magazine Subscriptions and More

It sure seems that this week past by very quickly!

This past week, I finished crocheting all the fancy yarn that I had into headbands that I will use for gifts for the girls and women on my Christmas gift list.    I ended up with the 12 in the photo, plus 2 others that I've already gotten into my gift tote.   I do believe that is exactly what I need for all the females on my list to each get one.
I never imagined when I started crocheting them that I would end up with so many.  The best part??
I only paid $1 at a rummage sale for ALL of the yarn that I used!    Now that is frugal gift giving!

I cashed out for $25 PayPal with Swagbucks this past week and spent it just as quickly.  At Dillon's I bought cat litter because it was much needed and I haven't rounded up enough in Amazon credit to order it yet.  I got an awesome deal on Brummel & Brown margarine just when we were down to our last.   Dillon's has a $1 ecoupon on it and ibotta has a $1 rebate for it.  I love when I can get deals like that....doesn't happen for me as often as it used to.  I also used the 25 cent rebate on any crackers and bought the store brand for .89, as well as the 25 cent rebate on anything. 

Speaking of Dillon's, this week's Friday Freebie is sports water. Don't forget to go add it to your card.

Free BodyArmor Sports Water for Kroger & Affiliates

Here is a chance to win with Dillon's (Kroger) as well.


Win Over 8000 Prizes in the Kroger Snack Shot Instant Win Game




If you love free magazine subscriptions, this week I have a slew of them for you to check out!!

Free 2 Year Subscription to Bridal Guide Magazine

Free Subscription to Woman's Day Magazine

Free Subscription to Sports Illustrated

Free Subscription to Digital Photo Pro Magazine

Free Subscription to Town & Country Magazine

Free Subscription to AFAR Magazine

Free Subscription to Redbook, Seventeen & More


You'll need a nice magazine rack for all those free subscriptions.  Here are a few I see that I would love to have:

WIP Wednesday-- First Post for 2018

I missed posting last week for the actual first Wednesday of 2018.  It was just an extremely busy day away from home from the time I got out of bed up until after supper time.

I continued to work on the jingle bell blocks for Amelia's first birthday.  Just have the 3rd one to finish putting together before her birthday party on Friday.
I also have continued to crochet here and there on the headbands.

I have been making quite a few of the double towel scarves.  I have more to make, and actually, these will be items I continue to work on throughout the year.  I have quite a few for one lady to choose her 2 from.  Once she is in town and gets hers, the remaining ones will be listed in my Etsy shop.

I have so many things that need to be worked on....way too many to even try to start making a list here.  Time is not on my side for getting much sewing or quilting done.  I wish that would change, but not sure how to make the change happen.   I already have a really late start on getting this blog post out as I got sidetracked cleaning up a corner of the living room because my oldest daughter finally came to get her desk out of that corner.  Sigh!!

Immediately I need to try to make a couple of things that I took patterns for from the last quilt guild meeting.  These will be items that will be for sale in our boutique booth at the Wichita Quilt Show in June.   I also need to get out my sewn 4 patches and sew around to make pin cushions.  These will be given out as a free gift to anyone who buys tickets for a chance to win our opportunity quilt.
I also really want to get started trying to machine quilt that baby blanket.

In the meantime, I am linking up with the following blogs:



Jo's Country Junction:  http://www.joscountryjunction.com/

KatieMae Quilts for BOM weekly linky.  https://www.katiemaequilts.com/blog/

 

Frugal Friday With Marsha -- Into the New Year

Welcome to 2018!

It's that time again to think about my goals.  Basically they are the same every year.  Every year I start out fairly strong with them, then I fizzle out.  I'm sure this is the case with most people, which is why so many now say they don't make any New Year's "Resolutions".

Last year one of my goals was a 365 goal.  The goal to get money or gift cards in 365 times.  I actually didn't come too short of my goal, only by about 21 days.  However, I did have to start adding in found money, even that penny on the ground, to come that close.
I am trying for that same goal again.

I have tons of figuring to do yet on what I got from where, and then figure out what I paid for website upgrades etc.   I will be posting about my earning for the year over the next several weeks. 

I do know that my biggest online earner is no surprise at all to any of you.  It was Swagbucks, which earnings of $1,015.00 for the year.


You Can Get Free Gift Cards For Shopping, Searching and Discovering What's Online at Swagbucks.com

I'm standing good on my great start for gifts for this year too.  I've continued to crochet the headbands.  I'm almost done with Amelia's jingle bell blocks for her birthday coming up in 9 days.
I got in the BBQ Utensil set from Amazon that I ordered through Snagshout.   It's a nice set.
I used some of my Recyclebank points to order Preserve Re-Usable Utensil set.  It's not come in yet.  Once it does I will decided if it's something I can order more of for my gift stash.

Another of my goals is to declutter and organize this house.  2018 needs to be the year!! 
I dug out a couple of lists I've started in the past.  I say started because I have tried one of them twice--one time not getting past day 2 and another time I got to day 9.   This is the list I am actually starting with.  It's How to Clean Your House in 20 Minutes a Day for 30 Days.  You can find the article HERE is you would like to check it out for yourself.
Day one was today for me.  It really is surprising just what you can get done in 20 minutes, especially when that is just what you are focusing on.

Apps---so many apps that I "let slide" again throughout the year.  One of those was ShopKick.  I rarely messed with it at all.  At one point in the year my oldest daughter asked me about it.  I opened it and did the discover books for points.  The past couple of months I've been remembering to at least get the walk in points when I've been to Wal-Mart.
I had always gotten Target gift cards from ShopKick.  With the announcement that our Target will close it's doors on February 3rd, I went in and got the final few points I needed to cash in for a $5 Target card.   My intention was to get $5 off of cat food, but when I walked into the store, it's half empty and there was NO cat food left.
I ended up heading to the Christmas clearance aisle and getting a few items for 70 and 90% off.
Adding these items to my gift stash (except the Lindt chocolates, which are being adding to my stomach).

As I said, other apps that I just let slide and didn't do.  Doing so took away a lot of earnings for me.  Over the next several weeks I will also be writing about different apps.  Perhaps when I redeem would be a good time to write about them.

I've gotten too wordy again in this post, so will leave you with a few goodies to check out. 

Free Eggs & Bread at Walmart

Free Larabar at Kroger & Affiliates

30 Free Recyclebank Points

Win a $1000 Yankee Candle Shopping Spree

Frugal Friday With Marsha -- I Have a Plan

I have a nice start on next Christmas, yes, thinking way ahead.    I'm also hoping that I can keep up the way I'm already going and fill my tote where I stash gifts.  Some will be used for birthday gifts throughout the year as well.

I started off Christmas Eve by crocheting myself a headband to keep my ears warm in this cold weather.  This prompted me to think that I can make these for the women and girls for next Christmas.  Finding a stash of fancy yarn that I had bought at a yard sale (and had totally forgotten about) was a blessing to help me work on this project.  I can pull this out at various times to work on.

While shopping at Wal-Mart for my gift exchange gift for our family gathering, there was a couple buying pocket knives for stocking stuffers.  I was surprised to see they were only $1.97.  They left just one on the shelf, and I bought it.  My plan is to pick one up whenever I can throughout the year as these will be great to have with the gifts for the guys and the older grandsons.

I also have a plan to try to pick up something at Dollar Tree each time I shop there to add to my gift stash.


The other thing that I already started doing is to look at Snagshout on a regular basis to see what I can get for $3 or less that will make a good gift.  I've already ordered a $14.97 BBQ utensil set for $3.  It should come in today.  You never know what I might find there throughout the year and as of now, I have 7 more Snags that I can use.  This will also help me make better use of the free shipping with my Amazon Prime membership as well!


I think I have a really nice start and fully intend to keep it up!

How was your Christmas?  Are you ready for the New Year?  What plans do you have for saving in the new year?

WIP Wednesday -- Actually Have Been Working!

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and now I wish you all also a Happy New Year too!


glitter-graphics.com

I finished up the covered composition notebooks and got them all wrapped.  I have 7 left to give to my guild to put in the boutique for sale at the Wichita quilt show in June.

I was told that a lady wants to buy 2 of the double towel scarves from me soon, so I went ahead and got a start on making with the 4 towels that I had on hand.  It ended up that my daughter also brought home a towel from work that she wanted me to make into one of the scarves for her for Christmas too.  I made that one, finished one of the other 4 and have 3 left to just sew up.  I will buy a towel each time I'm out and continue to make these all year long.....at least that is my plan.

Amelia will turn 1 on January 14.  I have made each of the grandchildren the jingle bell blocks for either their 1st birthday or first Christmas for years now.  I went to my room and gathered my supplies and have a good start on getting her blocks done.   I intend to make as many as I can and start getting them put into my Etsy shop as well.  I have one set of 2 in there now, but I am going to change it to a set of 3. 

I've been missing my headband to keep my ears warm with it getting so cold outside.  I ran across some fancy yarn in my sewing/craft room, so sat Christmas Eve afternoon and crocheted myself a headband before the evening church service.   Yes, an idea as well to make more for Christmas presents last year.  While in my room yesterday I found more of the fancy yarn, so I am on a roll to getting more made!

Last, but not least, I was finally able to get to the quilt shop and use part of my gift card to buy some 505 spray.  I got this little baby quilt basted......of course now I'm anxious to try to start machine quilting it, but it must wait until I get the towels done.....and I won't be home again until late Thursday night. 

I did not do well at all with the challenge of completing 17 UFO's in 2017, as you can see on the sidebar that I only finished a few of my 17.   I think I will edit that and add 2018, and add more of my UFO's to the list!

Our family Christmas party was awesome as usual.  A little stressful with work schedules and things, but we finally were all together.  Unfortunately I didn't think to take any pictures until after the gifts were opened.  Here are the few shots where I attempted to get in everyone who was there.

Hoping beyond hope to be able to continue crafting and sewing as I have been this past week every week!

I link up with the following blogs:



Jo's Country Junction:  http://www.joscountryjunction.com/

KatieMae Quilts for BOM weekly linky.  https://www.katiemaequilts.com/blog/

 

WIP Wednesday -- 5 Days Until Christmas!

The days are going too fast and Christmas is literally right around the corner!

I have all of the covered composition notebooks done and over half of them wrapped.  I have found that I need to stop and buy another package of pens at Dollar Tree yet to have enough of those. 

I almost forgot about the stuffed Care Bears for Amelia's gift.  Since I didn't have anything for baby Jordan, I've decided that he is getting the blue and green Care Bears.  I only have 2 of the 6 completed.

In my picture you will notice more towels.  If possible, I need to make more of the double towel scarves before Sunday as a lady at church who has a friend who wants to buy some for gifts too.  Wish me luck on that one.

I've not yet pulled out my tote to see what's in it to see if I can make up some stocking bags for the children or not.  Again, wish my luck.

My daughters and I are getting together today in Inman for our "baking day".  The kids are out of school so my middle daughter has things planned for them to help today too. Busy day!!!

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and I will see you one more time with a WIP Wednesday post before the new year.


glitter-graphics.com


I link up with the following blogs.  I hope you will check them all out and see what others are making.



Jo's Country Junction:  http://www.joscountryjunction.com/

KatieMae Quilts for BOM weekly linky.  https://www.katiemaequilts.com/blog/

 

WIP Wednesday -- Towels and Notebook Covers

The double towel scarves aren't a WIP as I finished 6 of them this past week.  Two are sold, 2 are listed in my etsy shop and the other 2 will soon be listed in my etsy shop.
I do plan on making more as I can.

I managed to get 8 more of the covered composition notebooks done for my Christmas gifts.  Add these to the 9 I already have done and I have 18 more to get done for my goal of 35.  No, I don't need all of those for Christmas, but do want them done to have a nice choice of who gets which one.

In this picture my son gets the fish because he loves to fish.  My middle daughter gets the peace signs because that's who she is.  My 4 yr old grandson gets the animals.  My mom gets the roses, her favorite flower.  I think my sister-in-law is getting the green meadows, and I know for sure that my brother gets one of the US print.

I have sit n' sew this week at the quilt shop.  I would love to get back to working on my Arkansas Crossroads quilt, but I think I better be smart and work on the notebook covers.

Cool gift idea for the quilter in your life---I would sure love it!

Quilting patchwork grunge quilter funny tee

by KnittingandSewing


In the meantime, I link up with the following blogs:



Jo's Country Junction:  http://www.joscountryjunction.com/

KatieMae Quilts for BOM weekly linky.  https://www.katiemaequilts.com/blog/

I also would love to have these t-shirts!!